Tongs



Aug. 29, F. BAASH Er AL TONGS Filed March 18, 1930 f.. 5 7 "//ffr%// Patented .Aug Y279, `1933 UNITED: sTArEyvsa PATENT .roll-*FICE i 'i This invention relates totoolsfand relates more particularly to tongs for handling pipe,

Vtubingpand like objects, and a general objectY of the invention is to provide a simple, effective and improved tool of this character.Y

Another `object of the inventionris to provide tongs` that are particularly sturdy in construction and which embody but few simple parts.

Another object of the invention is to provideV a tool of the character mentioned which embodies a gripping jawand cam means for operating the jaw adapted to' bedirectly operated by a line or the like employed to operate .the

`tool.

f It is another object of the invention topro- Vide tongs whichv are Well balanced and easy to operate and 'which' may be constructed to withstand hard usage.

It is a further ,object of the invention which the means for operating the gripping jaw are housed and protected against injury and mayfbe constructed suiliciently heavy to :withstand hard usage, and vexcessive strains,V

without" making the tool jbulky or unbalanced. Another object of the invention Vis to provide tongs of the character mentioned in which the line for operating or turning the ,tongs and for -operating the gripping jaw connects to the tool at a point a substantial distance from the pipe carrying part of the tool so that a great leverage isv obtained for turning the tongs.

Y Other objects and features of our inventionl will be best and more fully vunderstood from the 'following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, through-- out which description reference is had to the A`accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. `l is'a sideelevation of `thetongs provided by our presentinvention illustrating the tool engaging a pipe. Fig. 2`is a'top vorplan.

view of the tongs. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view ofthe device.V Fig.` 4 is an` enlarged detail sectional View of theheadpor` tion ofthe tool, and Fig. 5 is anenlarged trans' verse detail sectional view as indicated byline 5^5 onFigL 3.

The tool providedV by our vpresentinvention is capable ofv embodiment in tongs, `for handling various types ofV objects. Throughout fthe present disclosure of the invention We will ydescribe it as embodied in .tongs for handling pipe or casing. It is to be understood ,that the invention is .not to be construed as restrictedto thev to provide tongs vof` the character Vmentioned inA particular form or.V application of the invention'l about to be described, butis tobe takenasi-nciuding anyfeatures or modifications Vthat may fall` within the scope of the claim.

The tongs provided by thisinvention includes;

generally, pipe engaging meanslO, a pipe `grip'-` l 4ping element or jaw l1 carried bythe" means 10, a handle 12.4'for the means 10,` means 13,0nA

thefhandle 12'ifor operating the jaw 11k, and means 14Iiorqreturning the gripping vjavi to a retracted'lposition after operation "The pipe .engaging means 10` isr preferably such as to embrace .onercircle a pipe P 'and carries the jaw 1l for vgripping aV pipe. The

means 10is in the nature of a heady andrilay be ldesigned in various ;`nanners forhandling pipe or like objects `of yvarious different sizes and shapes.

10 includes `a main or Abody parti` 15 and an outer part or closure element 16.` v

l The body part ,15.,inthe preferred embodil-A.; ment of the invention,v carriesthef gripping jaw,

11g andA isf ormed or poyded with the 'operating lever or vhandle 12.V The body part 15 rnpayl'oeA a single rigid part yokedor Alleslha'ped linits genv eral configuration so'that it has two spaced side parts 17 and 18 and a,:.central recess" or opening 19 betweenthe'sidepaitsf.Y The `open-y ing 19 is providedjto carrythe' gripping jaiv. i11

` and is shaped to slidably.'receiveprfcarry -the 4 jaw. The-sides orsidewalls 21 of theopening" In the case illustrated the ineansl 19 are preferably made parallel and flatio. v

slidably receive 4thesidesof the gripping jaw v11.` The innerportion of the opening 197may-p. be in the nature-cfa socket or recess, that is,`

the'body part 15 rnayjhave whatwe will term; its upper and lower portionsy extending over the inner portion of `the opening.

. The-closure element` 16r ofthe `pipa.encircling means 11-is in thenature ofi'a closure or gate means forithe. outer end of the. opening 19` may be any suitable form of .gate or closure. -In' and the particular formA of `the invention illustratedk the gate element 16 includes twosections pivot'-k 1GO ally carried by the body part 15. Onesection outer end ofthe side part 18." Thev sections 22 and23 may be `pivotally connected Withthe body part.15 -by pivotpinsjor bolts 24. The two secr.

`tions22 and 23 are shaped to vembrace `orkexp-r'l tend aroundapipe P ,to retain the pipe in position for engagement by the `gripping elementv 1l.' The inner sides of the sections-242 l*and 2v3mar`y 22of the gate element` 16 is pivotally mountedon 1 `theouter end' ofthe part l'lv and the other sec-p tion 23 of the gate is pivotallyk supported on the be curved to effectively seatagainst the pipe P. In the particular case illustrated the inner sides of the sections 22 and 23 are provided with pipe holding parts in the form of dies 25. The dies may be seated in sockets or recesses 26 and may have teeth for engaging the pipe.

The sections 22 and 23 are mounted on the body part 15 so that they are adapted to be swung or operated to a closed position where their outer` or free ends are in approximate abutment. Means is provided for releasably holding or latching the sections 22 and 23 together in the closed position. A latch 27 may be provided on one vof the sections to cooperatev with a latch catch or lug 28 onr the other section.' In the case illustrated the latch 27 is pivotally carried by the section 23 and is adapted to cooperate with the lug 28 on the section 22. 'Ihe latch 27 is pivotally attached to the section 23 by meansfof a pivot' pin 29 and is positioned to engage or cooperate with the lug 26 upon the sections 22 and 23 being operated to the closed position. It is preferred to normally yieldingly vurge the latch into a position where it will automatically cooperate with the lug 28 upon the closure of the sections. A springSO'may be provided in connection rwith ythe pivot pin 29 for yieldingly holding the latch 27 in aposition to cooperate with theV lug 28. Suitable operating handles 31 may be provided on the outer sides of the closure sections 2 2 and 23.

The jaw 11 is carried by the mainy or body part 15 vof the means 10 and is in the nature cfa gripping element for securely gripping an object such as the pipe P. The gripping jaw 11 is slidably carried in the opening 19 of the body 15 and isk operable by means 13 to engage the pipe P. The jaw 11 may be a rigid unitary member. The jaw 11 is provided with iiat parallel sides 32 slidable on the inner walls 21 of the/opening 19. The outer or active pipe engaging 'end of the jaw 11 is rounded or made concave to eiectively'seat against the pipe. The outer side of the jaw 11 may be provided with pipe engaging parts in vthe form of dies 33.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention meansis provided onthe jaw 11 for engaging the pipe P to resist rotation of the element 11, and accordingly the tool, relative to the pipeV P to ensure proper engagement of the element with the pipe when operation of the tool rst starts. Any suitable form of yielding engagement means may be provided in connection InA with the elementll for engaging the pipe. the case shown a pipe engaging member 40 is pivotally mountedv in a'recess 41 in the active or pipe receiving end of the jaw. The member 40 maybecarried on a pin 43. The member 40 is-so arranged so that its'outer side normally projects or extends beyond the outer side of the jaw 11 and theouter side is serrated or provided' ment with the pipe P.

lThe handle 12 is provided on the mais or mayv part 15 of the means 10 to facilitate handlingy and operation of the tool. The handle 12 carr Y ries the means 13 for operating the gripping jaw 11. with the body Dart 15 and projectsy rearwardly Y or outwardly from the body part 15. The outer portion or end of the handle 12 is yoked or provided with spaced side parts 46 forming a transverse opening 45.

as a whole.

vby the cam face 53.

' opening 66 inthe handle 12.

The handle 12 may be formed integralv handle 12 on a pin or bolt 52 extending transversely through the space or yopening 45. The

Aupper and lower ends of the cam 59 may be guided or supported by the inner sides oi the .side parts 46. The cam 50 includes an eccentric or cam part 53 to cooperate with the rod 51 and .a projecting lever or arm 54. The cam part 53 is positioned and proportioned toimpart the desired inward movement to the rod 51 upon the cam- Y50 being rotated. The arm 54 is provided fcroperating the cam and. projects radially outward from the central part of the cam. The arm 54 preferably projects to a point where the operating line 462L connected vto the arm will readily clear or pass the outer end of the han-V dle- 12. It is a feature of the invention that thecam li() may be positioned so thatthe arm will be at the outer end of the handle so that the line 46i'can be operated to actuate the cam and also cause turning or operating of the tongs The arm being at the outer end of the handle, is located so that a substantial leverage is obtained for operating the tongs. The arm 54 is provided with suitable means for connection with the operating line 46a. For instance, it may be provided with an'opening 56 for receiving the operating' line 46a.

The operating rod 51 is slidably'carried in a longitudinal opening 57 in the handle 12. The rod 51 extends completely through the'opening 57 and one end of thek arm is connected with the gripping jawll whilethe other end of thev rod projects into the opening 45 to be engaged by the cam 50. The inner end'of the rod 51 may be `screw threaded into a socket 58 at the rear end of the gripping jaw r11. In accordance with the preferred form -of the invention the outer end of the'operating rod 51 is provided with an anti-friction roller 60 for engagement The outery end of the rod 51 maybe yoked and the roller 60 may be rotatably carried between the yoked parts by a pin 61. Stop means .is provided for limiting the inward movement of the operating rod 51.

Astop 62 in the form of a collar is screw threaded on the outer portion of the rod 51. is adapted to engage the inner end of the opening 45 to limit the inward movement of the rod 51 and the gripping jaw 11.

The means 14 for automatically returning the gripping jaw 11 to the retracted position after The stop 62 actuation may bel in the form of spring means.

The means 40 may include ya helical' compression spring 65 arranged in a longitudinal slot or The spring 65 is arranged between the outer end of the opening 66 and a pin 67 carried bythe body part15. The pin 67 extends transversely through the opening 66. `The opening 66 is made sufficiently long to permit the desired movement of the rod 51. pressed upon inward movement of the gripping jaw 11 and, through expansion; operates to return the gripping jaw 11 to its normal position upon the release of the actuating'means 13.V As

The spring 65 is arranged so' that it is comp 135245389 the rod returns to the unactuated position lthel Vcam is likewise returned to the unactuated acting between the cam 50 and the handle 12;Y

The spring has one end connected to the cam 50 and the other end secured to one ofjthe side parts 46 of the handle 12. The spring '70 is such that it is subjected to a torsional strainupon rotation of the cam 50 and acts to rotate the cam 50 to return it to its normal position after actuation. l

Means may be provided on the pipe engaging means 10 for suspending or carrying the tongs. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing an eye bolt is provided on the body part l5, so that it projects upwardly from the upper side Vof theK part 15.

It is believed that the operation of the tool provided by this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed` description. A pull on the operating line 46- which` turns or rotates the cam 50 causes the cam to operate the rod 51 and the gripping jaw 11. The cam face' 53 and the lever arm 54 of the vcam 50 may be-proportioned and related to give the defV sired or necessary movement to the gripping jaw 11. It is to be noted that the arm 54 may be 50 `and the various other parts of the means 13 are carried'at the outer portion of the handle 12 so that theymay be made as heavy as desired or necessary without making'the' tool bulky or unbalanced. The various parts of the means 13 operate to balancek the pipe engaging means 10 and other parts at the active end of the tool.

It is to be noted that the `various parts of the tool may be proportionedl so that the' gripping element 11 has a substantial range of movement so that the tool is capable of handling objects varyingconsiderably in size. y 7

Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wish to reservev to ourselvesany changes or variations that may appear to those *skilled in the art lso l orfall Vwithin the scope of the following claim.

a Having described our invention, we claim:

Tongs of the character described including, pipe encircling means, `a handle rigidly connected with said means, a jaw slidably carried by said means operable to grip a pipe, and means i for actuating the jaw including a rod connected with the jaw and slidable in an opening in the handle, a cam pivotally mounted on the outer f end of the handle for operating the rod', means on thecam for receivingA aline for turning the tongs, and means for limiting movement ofthe rod and jaw whereby the force transmitted by the line may turn the tongs after actuation of thel jaw, said last .V mentioned means including a collar adjustablyscrew-threaded on'the rod Y 4 adapted to engage a part of .the handle.

- LAWRENCE F. 'BAASH.

.i WILLIAM H. MAXWELL. 

